The forum, co-hosted by the chief of naval operations, took
place at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.

In a keynote speech, Navy Adm. Scott Swift, commander of
U.S. Pacific Fleet, shared his expectations of those operating in the waters of
the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Responsible, Safe Compliance With International Law

“I’m focused on the behavior of all naval and maritime
forces in the region, not on any specific country,” Swift said. “I expect all
naval and maritime forces, including my own, to operate responsibly, safely and
in full compliance with international law.”

Navy Capt. Patrick Gibbons operations, plans and strategy
legal advisor and oceans policy advisor for the chief of naval operations,
explained how the forum builds relationships and strengthens collaborative
efforts between the United States and its allies.

“This forum is designed to facilitate an exchange of views
among all our allies and partners in the region,” Gibbons said. “This exchange
of views helps us to understand each other’s approaches to the challenges in
the region but it also facilitates personal relationships between the
attendees.”

Navy Cmdr. Jonathan Odom, Asia-Pacific Center for Security
Studies military professor and Cooperative Strategy Forum organizer, said that
the center also benefits from these types of multinational events.

Maintaining Regional Cooperation

“One of the top three priorities in our curriculum, both in
workshops and courses that we teach, is now maritime security,” he said. “For
us to hold an event here where you have the leaders or representatives of the
leaders of the navies throughout this region discussing ways to cooperate on
maritime issues is clearly quite an opportunity for us.”

As part of the event, Swift explained why maintaining
cooperation between partner nations in the region is important.

“Today, all Indo-Asia-Pacific nations benefit from a rising
tide of prosperity,” the admiral said. “We all have major stakes in this
region’s continued success, especially at sea, where so much of our trade,
investment and interaction take place.”

Swift then offered his thoughts on the way ahead for the
region.

“I’m convinced the continued promotion of the rules-based
system that evolved over the past 70 years remains the best way forward for all
nations in this region, large and small, to continue to rise peacefully,
confidently, securely, and economically,” he said. “My concern is that after
many decades of peace and prosperity at sea, we may be seeing the leading edge
of a return of ‘might makes right’ to the region. Such an approach may once
again impact the vibrant but vulnerable, waters of Southeast Asia.”